Page 3 - Dockside Magazine Muskoka, Summer/Fall 2018

What lurks beneath
Pest control would be
so much easier of the critters stayed out in the open where we could see them.
Unfortunately, that’s not usually the way nature
works. From carpenter ants to spiders to mice, the rule
of thumb is the same: “If
you start seeing them in
your living space, chances
are they’re already well- established in your home,” says Mark Sampson, owner of Muskoka Pest Control.
That’s the reason a thorough pest-control plan begins with an inspection of the structure, including all the yucky spaces that people don’t normally visit. “It’s
not because we love messing around in crawl spaces or attics, believe me,” Mark says with a laugh. “But if you want to know what’s going on in a home, you need to go where the evidence may be.”
Pests hide in the spooky spaces of your cottage
and pest habitat, and generally make your cottage unwelcoming to invaders.
“Muskoka is full of wildlife. It’s one of the things we
love about being here,” says Mark. “Unfortunately, wild creatures are always on the lookout for places to live, eat, and hide. Our goal is to make sure the cottage isn’t one of them.” DS
BY ANDREW WAGNER-CHAZALON
People are often surprised to learn what is living in their homes. “I met with a new client recently, who was sure they didn’t have any mice,” says Mike Sampson, Mark’s son. “I went in the crawl space and found six dead ones.”
It’s not all dead bodies, of course. Droppings can be evidence of mice or other mammals; frass (the technical term for chewed wood debris) can indicate carpenter ants
or be evidence of moisture problems; webs, of course, are proof of spiders; chew marks or even holes can indicate mice entry, squirrels or racoons; and so on.
Not all creatures hide in the dark, though. A myriad
of pests are always visible. “Wood roaches, wasps and hornets, ants outside on pathways and gardens, and of course all sorts of wildlife can be seen in and around a cottage,” says Mark. “They are a part of nature and our job is to help prevent them from entering the cottage.”
Whatever the pest, once they know what they’re battling Mark and his team will develop a targeted, specific treatment plan.
Sometimes a search in the nooks and crannies turns up nothing at all. “That’s the scenario we’re working toward,” says Mark. “Then we can focus on keeping it that way.”
A regular treatment plan
– including scheduled inspections – is the only way to ensure that new invaders don’t move into a cottage. The experts will inspect, treat and make the necessary recommendations to eliminate food sources
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW FEARMAN
1
Mark Sampson (top) and Mike Sampson
of Muskoka Pest Control
157 Medora Street (Hwy 118), Port Carling 705-765-5199 • 866-765-5199 info@muskokapestcontrol.com www.MuskokaPestControl.com